The reliable measurement of extremely small components in the micron range often pushes optical sensors beyond their limits. With the introduction of its new PNBC range in March 2015, wenglor sensoric GmbH presented a total of eight new high-performance distance sensors, which are setting new standards where accuracy is concerned with their revolutionary maximum resolution of 0.06 μm with only 0.05 per cent linearity error.

Wenglor

This impressive precision is supported by excellent reproducibility and thermal stability – even at output rates of up to 30 kHz.

Wenglor’s new range of PNBC sensors work with a high resolution CMOS line array and determine distance to the object by means of angular measurement. Top quality optics make measured values possible which can be read out with 16-bit resolution and can thus go all the way down to 0.06 μm. Thanks to proven algorithms, stable measured values are obtained even for difficult to measure surfaces, for example sheet metal with speckle effect, and can be reliably evaluated. The measured value itself demonstrates exceptional accuracy. Relative to the entire measuring range, maximum linearity error amounts to just 0.05 per cent. With a maximum range of 1,000 mm, PNBC products are amongst the most accurate sensors available on the market. But they’re not distinguished by accuracy alone – the speed at which they measure objects makes one sit up and take notice as well: with measuring frequencies of up to 30,000 Hz, PNBC sensors are well above average relative to other, comparable distance sensors.

Minimized temperature drift makes use of the sensor possible immediately after switching it on without a long warm-up phase, and the sensor can get down to work without delay. The measured value is read out simultaneously via the analog output and the Industry 4.0 compatible Ethernet TCP/IP interface. This provides the user with the opportunity of forwarding data to higher-level system participants directly via network integration.

That the new high-end products fulfill all requirements of modern measurement technique not only arises from its intelligent system integration. The new sensors are equipped with up to four switching outputs, which can also be used, for example, as incremental encoder inputs or for switching emitted light on and off. Beyond this, diverse sensor setting options are made available by external wenglor software (wTeach). In particular, the software is extremely well suited for diagnostic purposes, i.e. checking temperature or signal strength.

The highlights at a glance:

Maximum resolution of down to 0.06 μm

Highly precise measurement with a maximum linearity error of 0.05 per cent